I checked in with Steve Spangler Science to read more about these bursting bags and learn about the science behind the bursting bags. The chemical reaction between the baking soda and the vinegar creates a gas {CO2} that fills the bag. If there is more gas than room in the bag, you get your bursting bags. Pretty cool science. Check out our year of fizzy science activities.

SUPPLIES FOR BURSTING BAGS SCIENCE ACTIVITY

Baking Soda

Vinegar

Gallon Size Bags {we did not use the zip lock but you can try it}

Toilet paper

Tablespoon Measure and 2/3 Cup Measure

We chose to use the toilet paper method to slow down the chemical reaction enough that we could see what was happening with our bursting bags! We had to change around the original recipe from Steve Spangler as it wasn’t working for us. We also seemed to have strong bags which were store brand. Dollar store bags may produce different results.

Make a toilet paper pouch for the baking soda. Take one square of toilet paper and place a heaping tablespoon of vinegar in the middle. Bring corners together and wind up top to create a simple pouch. Add 2/3 cup of vinegar to gallon size bag. Seal the bag so there is just enough room to slip in pouch. Give a little shake and toss on the ground. Watch and see what happens with your bursting bags. Will they pop, burp, explode?

We attempted to follow the instructions from Steve Spangler, but we were not having any luck. We decided to experiment with our bursting bags on our own. What did we need to change?

Experimenting is what science is all about.

I am glad we did not have immediate success with our bursting bags science activity.

The problems our bursting bags had gave my son the opportunity to think of solutions. He wanted to keep trying more bursting bags. He was excited to see if the next bursting bag would work better or differently. Coming up with a solution is great for encouraging learning.

With a little assistance he was able to make the bursting bags burst!

We did have success with our bursting bags. The one below grew and grew until it popped the bottom seam.

Some of the bursting bags exploded in the middle of the bag while a few others just let out a little burp. Simple variations in each set up caused different reactions.